Headed to New Orleans for the Tremendous Bowl or Mardi Gras? Right here’s a Security Information.

Because the host metropolis for Tremendous Bowl LIX, New Orleans expects to welcome greater than 100,000 guests for the Feb. 9 recreation between the Kansas Metropolis Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. Not less than one million extra folks will likely be celebrating Mardi Gras, town’s largest vacationer draw yearly, lower than a month later.

However a terrorist assault on New Yr’s Day, which killed 14 folks and injured dozens extra on the tourist-filled thoroughfare of Bourbon Avenue, has solid a pall over town.

Since then, native, state and federal officers have sought to reassure guests concerning town’s security for the Tremendous Bowl and Mardi Gras. New or expanded safety efforts are deliberate, together with aerial surveillance and assigning extra plainclothes officers. Moreover, the Division of Homeland Safety, the federal company liable for public safety, together with antiterrorism and catastrophe prevention, upgraded its safety evaluation of town’s Mardi Gras parades to its highest score, which permits for extra funding and assets to be provided. The Tremendous Bowl was already assessed at its highest degree.

“We’re doing all the things we will to deal with the gaps that the New Orleans Police Division and the Louisiana State Police may need,” stated Eric DeLaune, a particular agent with D.H.S.’s Homeland Safety Investigations who’s main the federal coordination for Tremendous Bowl and Mardi Gras.

In line with the Homeland Safety Investigations workplace, safety efforts for each occasions will embody particular brokers stationed on rooftops and within the crowds, SWAT workforce members on standby, surveillance drones, further safety cameras across the metropolis, armored automobiles positioned at key factors, Ok-9 officers with bomb-sniffing canine, and patrols alongside the Mississippi River. Intelligence analysts will even be working to establish potential threats.

Throughout the Tremendous Bowl and its associated occasions, brokers will focus on the neighborhoods close to Caesars Superdome: the Warehouse District and the French Quarter. Throughout Mardi Gras, the efforts will likely be extra widespread throughout town.

The Homeland Safety Investigations workplace and town of New Orleans declined to supply particular numbers of legislation enforcement officers who will likely be on responsibility between native, state and nationwide companies, however in a assertion town stated that the New Orleans Police Division “will likely be staffed at 100%.”

Superintendent Anne Kirkpatrick of the New Orleans Police Division stated at a Jan. 10 information convention that the native police pressure could have “all arms on deck” throughout the Tremendous Bowl and, mixed with state and federal entities, there will likely be “tons of and tons of of officers.”

“With completely all of the legislation enforcement cops you’re going to see on the market for Tremendous Bowl, you’re going to assume you’re in a sea of blue,” the superintendent stated.

Along with foot patrols, town is putting in a brand new bollard system and momentary archers — heavy-duty steel barricades — to dam common roadways, together with Bourbon Avenue, from automobile site visitors. Bourbon Avenue was the place a person driving a truck rammed into dozens of revelers early New Yr’s Day after evading a parked police cruiser. Bollards had been put in in 2017, however some have been malfunctioning and underneath restore. The brand new work on bollards is anticipated to proceed by February.

Earlier this month, the state started eradicating homeless encampments close to the Superdome and the French Quarter, a pricey, controversial effort undertaken earlier than the inflow of holiday makers arrives.

Tremendous Bowl safety

Tremendous Bowl host stadiums have a safety perimeter 3 times the scale of a regular-season recreation, and the Superdome will likely be protected by a 300-foot perimeter, in line with Tim Schlittner, a Nationwide Soccer League spokesman. He added that a number of layers of safety will embody entry checkpoints and fences across the stadium.

The N.F.L.’s safe areas will embody the Superdome, the Tremendous Bowl Expertise at New Orleans’ conference middle — described by the N.F.L. as a “soccer theme park” — and different smaller, league-sanctioned occasions.

The NFL’s clear bag coverage will likely be in impact: Solely baggage which are product of clear plastic, vinyl or PVC and don’t exceed 12 inches by 6 inches by 12 inches will likely be permitted, though followers are inspired to not convey any baggage in any respect. On-line, a record of prohibited objects contains banners, indicators, meals and drinks, selfie sticks and noisemakers.

For Mardi Gras, a brand new security designation

But Mardi Gras is a sprawling collection of occasions throughout a number of neighborhoods over the course of a number of weeks. Its nature could put extra strain on town’s safety equipment.

Mr. DeLaune stated upgrading Mardi Gras this 12 months to a SEAR 1 occasion “offers us a possibility to function at a better degree and to verify to present the group these assets they want.”

Particular person precautions guests can take

Traditionally, New Orleans has had a popularity for being a metropolis that struggles with crime; however final 12 months, violent crime within the metropolis fell to its lowest ranges since 2019.

However, guests are suggested to take the identical precautions as with touring to different city areas: be careful for pickpockets, don’t stroll alone at evening, keep conscious of your environment, have your I.D. on you and preserve your beverage in sight.

“Identical to in another metropolis, you must have your head on a swivel and be paying consideration,” stated Mr. DeLaune. “Are you standing in a spot the place you’re uncovered to passing site visitors? Are you standing in a spot that’s not well-lit?” He additionally advisable ensuring your cellphone is charged.

It will be clever to permit for further time to get by the improved safety that guests will now expertise. Staying with a gaggle can also be a good suggestion, as is making a plan earlier than you head out and sharing that plan with others.

For family and friends to trace your whereabouts, use a location-sharing service like Life360, “Discover My” on iPhone or “Private Security” on Android or Google Maps.

“Let folks know the place you’re going, and inform somebody who’s not there the place you’re going and what your plan is,” stated Seth Krummrich, vice chairman of shopper danger administration for the safety agency International Guardian and a retired Military colonel who used to stay in New Orleans.

Mr. Krummrich additionally recommends having two or three exit methods in thoughts — “if something occurs, I’m going this fashion” — and establishing a gathering place and time, in case somebody in your group will get misplaced or loses their cellphone.

As all the time, drive sober and defensively. “After 11 p.m. in New Orleans, I personally should assume {that a} quarter of the drivers on the market are inebriated,” he stated.

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